Northampton, MA — American Promise, a national cross-partisan non-profit organization dedicated to winning a 28th Amendment to overturn Citizens United v. FEC and secure the political equality of all Americans, announces the first annual Congressional Leadership Award.

This year’s winners include Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) for his bi-partisan leadership in Congress fighting to overturn Citizens United, and secure Constitutional rights for human beings rather than corporations. Rep. McGovern is a lead sponsor of the Constitutional amendment and has earned a national reputation as a tireless advocate for his district and as a champion for campaign finance reform, social justice, and national security.

“A 28th Amendment is about taking our democracy back from big money and big corporations, it’s about empowering people, ensuring that people and not corporations have the greatest influence in our government.” Said Rep. McGovern.

The 28th Amendment has broad-based support in Massachusetts and across the country. In 2012, the Massachusetts legislature passed a resolution calling on Congress to propose a 28th Amendment to “restore the First Amendment and fair elections to the people.” In 2014, over 200 towns passed similar resolutions calling for a 28th Amendment with overwhelming, bi-partisan support.

Other winners of the Congressional Leadership Award include retired Congressman Jim Leach (R-IA), Congresswomen Donna Edwards (D—MD), and Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC). The awards will be presented at the first Annual National Citizen Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.

“Each of the recipients has demonstrated courage, leadership, and civility in reaching out across partisan lines to do what’s best for the nation.” Said Jeff Clements, the President and co-founder of American Promise and the host of the National Citizen Leadership Conference. “Each knows that the nation needs and the vast majority of Americans want a 28th Amendment to the Constitution to overturn Citizens United and put people back in charge of our elections and government.”

Registration is now open for the Conference, which will be hosted at the Renaissance Washington DC Downtown Hotel from September 30 through October 2, 2016. The non-partisan, nonprofit Conference will draw hundreds of people across the country to strategize, connect, deliberate, and build power to win a 28th Amendment to overturn Citizens United so that America is governed by people, not money. Bill Moyers leads the list of participants that include Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), Fmr. Congressman Jim Leach (R-Iowa), Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD), Reverend Katharine Henderson, President of Auburn Theological Seminary, Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, and many more.

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Since 1776, the American people have worked to fulfill the American promise: human liberty, equal citizenship, government by the people. American Promise is a non-profit organization founded in 2016 to win the 28th Amendment that says
people - not money - govern America.